06-27-2020, 03:43 PM
One of the early things the US government did that I thought would be unpopular was to ban visitors from LTCF. Maybe that was only at the VA facilities, I don't know. I heard it go by but didn't pay too much attention because I'm not in that situation currently. I believe California has such a rule. I know San Mateo Co. does, as I just went through their orders.
I suspect that has REALLY helped reduce fatalities. Look at SCC's timeline of cases in LTCF. There were few and no outbreaks after an initial, deadly wave.
But SCC is now undergoing a wave of cases in their LTCF. 34 new cases in the last 8 days of reports (June 14-21) versus 46 in the previous 44 days (May 1 to June 13). Only one facility has enough cases to show its actual numbers (12 patients, 14 staff). 4 other facilities have patient cases (< 11 in each). Of those, 3 also have staff cases. But there are SIX facilities that have staff cases but no patient cases. Other than the one facility with 26 cases, all the others must be about 1 case each.
Let me commend the individuals and the processes that kept those staff cases from becoming patient cases. Those likely represent lives saved.
I wonder where & how the other situations happened. If visitors are not allowed, then how did a patient case happen with no staff case? (New resident?)
With no visitors, I presume staff (doctors, nurses, admin staff, care-givers, maintenance, EMT) brought the disease into the facility. Furthermore, I would believe that the infections were from presymptomatic (or asymptomatic) staff. But where & how did the use of face masks and such fail?
I understand that for the patients probably do not wear masks all the time (meals, bathing, taking pills, etc.) or perhaps almost any of the time, but I would presume the staff do wear masks essentially all the time. I would presume the staff is supposed to be practicing hand hygiene.
Did the disease spread from staff to patient through inadequate rules for protecting against spread, or inadequate equipment (cotton masks used by staff instead of surgical masks), or human error (not wearing a mask, etc), or for other reasons (shared bathrooms, etc.)?
I suspect that has REALLY helped reduce fatalities. Look at SCC's timeline of cases in LTCF. There were few and no outbreaks after an initial, deadly wave.
But SCC is now undergoing a wave of cases in their LTCF. 34 new cases in the last 8 days of reports (June 14-21) versus 46 in the previous 44 days (May 1 to June 13). Only one facility has enough cases to show its actual numbers (12 patients, 14 staff). 4 other facilities have patient cases (< 11 in each). Of those, 3 also have staff cases. But there are SIX facilities that have staff cases but no patient cases. Other than the one facility with 26 cases, all the others must be about 1 case each.
Let me commend the individuals and the processes that kept those staff cases from becoming patient cases. Those likely represent lives saved.
I wonder where & how the other situations happened. If visitors are not allowed, then how did a patient case happen with no staff case? (New resident?)
With no visitors, I presume staff (doctors, nurses, admin staff, care-givers, maintenance, EMT) brought the disease into the facility. Furthermore, I would believe that the infections were from presymptomatic (or asymptomatic) staff. But where & how did the use of face masks and such fail?
I understand that for the patients probably do not wear masks all the time (meals, bathing, taking pills, etc.) or perhaps almost any of the time, but I would presume the staff do wear masks essentially all the time. I would presume the staff is supposed to be practicing hand hygiene.
Did the disease spread from staff to patient through inadequate rules for protecting against spread, or inadequate equipment (cotton masks used by staff instead of surgical masks), or human error (not wearing a mask, etc), or for other reasons (shared bathrooms, etc.)?
